Nigeria Ranks 4th In TB Prevalence

Despite the huge sums of money budgeted for the health sector over the years, Nigeria still ranks 4th among the 20 tuberculosis (TB) high-burden countries in the world, with more than 400,000 estimated cases targeted for identification and treatment each year.
Rivers State Commissioner for Health, Prof Chike Princewill, who disclosed this at an event to mark this year’s World TB Day in Port Harcourt, last Saturday, with the theme, “Wanted: Leaders For A TB-Free Nigeria. You Can Make History. End TB”, said this was why the state government was increasing public awareness of the scourge and the challenges of TB treatment in the country.
According to Princewill, “TB remains the world’s leading infectious killer disease, being responsible for deaths of 1.7million persons each year, and representing the ninth cause of death globally”, adding that “most of the severe forms of deaths due to TB occur in Sub-Saharan Africa”.
Princewill pointed out that despite the gloomy picture of the scourge in the country, considerable successes have been recorded in the fight to eliminate TB in Rivers State through the provision of about 284 treatment facilities and 12 highly specialised diagnostic centres, which are accessible to residents of the 23 local government areas.
“Diagnosis and treatment of Mycotuberculosis infection is free at all supported sites. Drugs are available and given under supervision to ensure rational distribution to patients. State government supported supervision for quality service delivery is routinely carried out whilst active case search has been intensified in targeted clinical settings and high-burden communities,” Princewill explained.
He noted that the strong synergy between the state government and other relevant partners has facilitated the establishment of a specialized centre for Drug Resistant TB Treatment in the state, which according to him, has now become a service point for the neighbouring states in the South-South.
The health commissioner stated that although the journey to the elimination of TB was far from over, the state government was increasing investment in infrastructure and equipment necessary for optimum quality TB service delivery to international standards through the renovation and upgrading of the general hospital facilities across the 23 local government areas to help nip the scourge in the bud.
Princewill said that although the government was doing a lot to stem the tide, all stakeholders needed to be involved in the education and orientation towards a better health seeking behavior as a veritable means of strengthening control efforts, adding that “This year’s theme speaks to us as a people to work together and become champions in the fight against TB”.
“We, therefore, call on everyone to be an advocate for the elimination of TB infection. It is preventable and curable, especially when diagnosed early. Join the fight against TB,” he pleaded.

Susan Serekara-Nwikhaha